The Nebraska GOP Senate primary is a mess

posted at 2:01 pm on January 26, 2014 by Jazz Shaw

It was nearly a year ago when Senator Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska) announced he wouldn’t be seeking another term. In terms of the general election, this isn’t one that we’ve been paying a lot of attention to since the GOP should have little difficulty retaining the seat. The primary election, however, isn’t nearly as clear cut. (Nebraska goes pretty early, with the filing deadline barely a month away and the election being in the middle of May.) So far, on the Republican side, it seems to quickly be boiling down to a battle between Shane Osborn, a decorated naval aviator and former state treasurer and Ben Sasse, president of Midland University and a man with extensive private sector business experience and a deep background in healthcare issues.

From the small amount of traffic I’ve seen on this race, conservatives seem to be jumping heavily on the Sasse bandwagon so far. I’m not seeing much in Osborn’s background to find objectionable except for some complaints that he attracted early “establishment” support and funding. Sasse, on the other hand, has garnered the endorsement of the Senate Conservative fund, largely on his strong, stated opposition to Obamacare. These factors even prompted Erick Erickson to declare that you should send Sasse “every penny you can muster.”

But when asking around, I see that some people have been doing some digging and Sasse’s history of opposing Obamacare might not be exactly as billed. Sasse has experience as a former member of HHS under George W. Bush and spoke on the subject many times. One such occasion was a health care summit at his university in 2010. During the presentation he had plenty of complaints about the specifics of Obamacare to be sure, but he also closed with this:

Ultimately, Sasse said the healthcare bill “is an important first step” in thinking about healthcare coverage, but does not address problems that drive the growth of uninsured Americans…

“Fundamentally,” he told the crowd, “the message I want you to take away from this is that from 2008 to 2010 we didn’t deal with the major healthcare and health sector challenges we face. From 2010 to 2012, Republicans are disinclined to do anything constructive to solve the problem, and are instead going to have symbolic repeal votes.”

That wasn’t his only instance of commenting along these lines. As early as 2009 Sasse said of Obamacare, “Is it hopeless? Of course not. Some of the business opportunities amid the disruptions, for instance, are going to be huge and fascinating.” Also in 2009, Sasse co-authored an article for the Wall Street Journal debating the so called “public option” and health care reform. He makes some excellent points about how Medicare is rife with fraud and inefficiencies as well as how private insurance is far more desirable than a government run system. But he also includes this:

None of these considerations should be interpreted as a defense of the status quo, or a denial of the fact that major health reform is needed. It is, and now.

There are indeed many places where commercial health insurance is inefficient — for example, by trying to exclude the sick rather than compete for the business of managing their ailments more effectively. Moreover, the facilitation of a national insurance exchange could lower information and search costs for our increasingly mobile workforce.

But a lot of the comments I’ve seen relate in particular to the “business opportunities” which Obamacare might afford, and they are frequently attributed to Sasse’s former boss at HHS, “political and professional mentor” and still major contributor (to the tune of $2,300) to his campaign, Mike Leavitt. The close relationship of these two raises some questions, particularly since Erick Erickson – a big Sasse supporter as noted above – had this to say about Leavitt.

One issue, above all others, still gives many of the base qualms about supporting Romney. He never distanced himself from Romneycare and over the past several years and gone back and forth between definitive statements on full repeal of Obamacare and partial repeal of Obamacare.

Conservatives should therefore consider it unacceptable that Mike Leavitt has any role on the Romney campaign. Having pushed states to start implementing Obamacare, potentially to his profit, we must ask who is doing the vetting at Team Romney.

Mike Leavitt does not sound like the type of guy who will look Mitch McConnell in the eye in 2013 and demand, on behalf of President Romney, full and unconditional repeal of Obamacare.

I’m not sure that any of this is disqualifying, but there does seem to be something of a shift in tone about Obamacare here. Sasse’s background and knowledge of health care issues and his business experience are definite pluses, but I’m not sure his Obamacare opposition is any stronger – or even as strong – as Osborn’s. And I’m not hearing much to disqualify Osborn either, particularly in terms of O-care and amnesty for illegals. The “mess” aspect of this race is that it’s shaping up to be yet another Red on Red, Tea Party vs “establishment” battle. But competition breeds vetting and is healthy for the body politic, so it will be an interesting primary race to watch. And we should get a good winner out of it even if the general election will (hopefully) be a fairly safe walk to the finish line for whoever gets the nomination.

Any of you Cornhuskers have more information on Osborn (positive or negative) to offer beyond what’s in the campaign website bio and a few local appearance quotes? The pickings are rather slim in the national media on this race.

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Any of you Cornhuskers have more information on Osborn (positive or negative) to offer beyond what’s in the campaign website bio and a few local appearance quotes? The pickings are rather slim in the national media on this race.

When a so called “Conservative” can find the stones to identify with those opposing the Progressives that run the gop then I have no use for them. They are just like McConnell, Cornyn, Coburn, Portman, etc.

Any of you Cornhuskers have more information on Osborn (positive or negative) to offer beyond what’s in the campaign website bio and a few local appearance quotes? The pickings are rather slim in the national media on this race.

Jazz Shaw on January 26, 2014 at 2:01 PM

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No, I don’t…

OmahaConservative on January 26, 2014 at 2:04 PM

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Can you tell me anything about “Midland University”?

A politician having been President of any University sounds suspicious, unless it’s Liberty University.

Reading through them, Osborn is more geared towards veterans’ concerns when it comes to the military, while Sasse sounds like he’s trying to thread a neoconservative-libertarian thread. Oddly, only Osborn has a part of his page dedicated to repealing Obamacare, while for Sasse it goes unmentioned. Both sound like they’re good on abortion and gay marriage, although Sasse is a bit better on giving a bit more detail when it comes to his philosophy of why. Osborn has a segment dedicated to the 2nd amendment, while Sasse has no such segment. They both sound like they’re business-friendly candidates, although Sasse seems to place greater emphasis on this.

Someone needs to interview these guys and get some more specifics from them if Nebraskans are going to have a fully-informed choice,

The Tea Party never learns to vet its candidates! So frustrating. Their chosen candidate was gleefully talking about “economic opportunities” posed by ObamaCare’s disruptions. Gee, sounds an awful lot like he was fixing to cash in on ObamaCare in classic Crony Capitalism fashion. But now to get elected & the Tea Party endorsement, he now supports repeal. And the Tea Party fell for this? Disgraceful.

A politician having been President of any University sounds suspicious, unless it’s Liberty University.

listens2glenn on January 26, 2014 at 2:12 PM

I Googled it up but didn’t find too much. There are some questions about the University’s fiscal situation (which was apparently already in bad shape when they brought Sasse in) but I didn’t see much in terms of ideological bent, scandals or whatnot.

Midland is a small, expensive, academically mediocre private liberal arts college, loosely affiliated with the ELCA (see OmahaConservative’s description) which faced some serious financial difficulties, as many small, expensive, academically mediocre private liberal arts colleges have, over the last decade. Sasse seems to have competently shored up their finances, which is no small feat.

I wouldn’t judge Sasse’s political (or religious) views by the ELCA’s political and religious views – it is an amalgam of many smaller Lutheran sects, some of which are very progressive, and others which were far more conservative. Consequently, there’s a wide range of personal views within that church.

Seems to me like either candidate would probably be pretty good. Maybe rather than trying to destroy the one you don’t like, choose the one you do.

I miss living in Nebraska, where we often faced a choice of “good or better” when it came to picking political candidates. (Sure, we got our occasional Ben Nelson or Bob Kerrey, but, you know….)

Midland university is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lib arts school. ELCA is a very liberal mainline church body who ordain homosexuals and lesbians. Belief in Satan and Hell are optional…

OmahaConservative on January 26, 2014 at 2:27 PM

Sounds like a great church to be in. Do what you want, no consequences, and you can still tell everyone that you are a Good and Holy Person (TM). Again I ask: Why on Earth did the Tea Party endorse this guy? This Osborn fellow doesn’t seem THAT bad…

That is true but only if there is a primary on both sides. If the Democrat is unopposed and does not have to suffer any vetting at all in a primary fight, both Republicans come out bruised against the Democrat. An example I would point to would be Kentucky where a primary fight between Bevin and McConnell, who are both tied head to head with the unopposed Democrat is likely to get the Democrat elected this fall.

Shane Osborn (note: no relation to Tom Osborne–different spelling) went through a very ugly divorce. Not sure what I feel about the guy personally. His ex-wife charged some pretty nasty things about him.

I’ll probably vote for Sasse, but either will be ok. This race is hardly going to rip apart the conservative base in Nebraska.

I’m more interested in getting Mike Foley in the governor’s mansion. I’ll miss our current governor, who faces term limits. Gov. Dave is one of the best in the country.

These 4 stooges are all backing a candidate in Louisiana for senate who has NO MONEY, NO SUPPORT IN STATE, dropped into LA in 2012 to work for Mary Landrieu’s largest contributor, and no endorsements even from an obscure elected dog catcher.

That ought to tell you something about their political savvy, or lack thereof. Makes me want to ask if payola is involved in their endorsements.

Yes, we always do. That is why Deb Fischer is our junior, soon to be senior senator…

OmahaConservative on January 26, 2014 at 4:12 PM

I like the sound of that. And I agree about Ricketts. He just doesn’t do anything for me, even though he’d be an upgrade in the senate for so many states. We are blessed in NE to have so many decent and sometimes fantastic choices. No offense to HotAir, but I hardly think of this race as a mess.

Mucking foron, add the NSA and exposed private, medical and financial data, and the mandate and you are beyond China and Russia.

“3rd world” will be a compliment, no matter who runs the House and the Senate.

What a stupid land!!!

Schadenfreude on January 26, 2014 at 2:10 PM

I had to re-read that myself, but I don’t think he’s talking about Federally managed exchanges like in Obamacare, it sounds like he’s referring to buying insurance across state lines in a national market.

These 4 stooges are all backing a candidate in Louisiana for senate who has NO MONEY, NO SUPPORT IN STATE, dropped into LA in 2012 to work for Mary Landrieu’s largest contributor, and no endorsements even from an obscure elected dog catcher.ng?

A politician having been President of any University sounds suspicious, unless it’s Liberty University.

listens2glenn on January 26, 2014 at 2:12 PM

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Midland University is a private liberal arts college……….

Stopped reading there.

Mimzey on January 26, 2014 at 2:17 PM
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I Googled it up but didn’t find too much. There are some questions about the University’s fiscal situation (which was apparently already in bad shape when they brought Sasse in) but I didn’t see much in terms of ideological bent, scandals or whatnot.

Jazz Shaw on January 26, 2014 at 2:22 PM

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Midland university is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lib arts school. ELCA is a very liberal mainline church body who ordain homosexuals and lesbians. Belief in Satan and Hell are optional…

OmahaConservative on January 26, 2014 at 2:27 PM
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Midland is a small, expensive, academically mediocre private liberal arts college, loosely affiliated with the ELCA (see OmahaConservative’s description) which faced some serious financial difficulties, as many small, expensive, academically mediocre private liberal arts colleges have, over the last decade. Sasse seems to have competently shored up their finances, which is no small feat.

I wouldn’t judge Sasse’s political (or religious) views by the ELCA’s political and religious views – it is an amalgam of many smaller Lutheran sects, some of which are very progressive, and others which were far more conservative. Consequently, there’s a wide range of personal views within that church.

Seems to me like either candidate would probably be pretty good. Maybe rather than trying to destroy the one you don’t like, choose the one you do.

I miss living in Nebraska, where we often faced a choice of “good or better” when it came to picking political candidates. (Sure, we got our occasional Ben Nelson or Bob Kerrey, but, you know….)

Ricketts just wants to try to buy another office, didn’t go so well the last time.
Personal opinion (along with a few my former military buddies): Osborn should have ditched in the ocean instead of landing in CHINA.
Don’t know much about Sasse except what I read and that goes both ways.

The race I’m looking forward to is in the 3rd Dist. Adrian Smith vs. Col. Tom Brewer. Its a house race but Smith hasn’t done squat the last few years and Brewer is a Sioux with war cred. Guy got smacked by an RPG and lived! Read “The Bone Yard” if you can find it. Him and four other Nebraska National Guardsmen Trainers took on 30 Afghanis and came out on top. 10th Mountain took most the credit for it though and Brewer almost got court martialed. Oh well. At least there aren’t any viable Dems out here….

It sounds as if Sasse is trying to be a moderate middle of the roader. He’s for some of the good things in zerocare just not the way it’s being implemented and may be a stealth establishment candidate. University president, ’nuff said.

Here is a link to one story about Osborn’s messy divorce. It’s the only real negative about Osborn that I’m aware of, but I generally don’t put much stock in stories that come out of divorces.

I don’t know enough about Sasse to support him yet. My personal opinion is that Shane Osborn is a “play it safe” and somewhat opportunistic politician, whose biggest claim to fame is landing an EP-3E jet in China after a mid-air collision. His stint as state treasurer was uneventful (except for his messy divorce).

Not sure who I’ll end up voting for. But, like most commenters, I think we’ll end up with a good senator regardless of who wins.